Comments on: Will Tramways Return to Montreal? http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/ Exploring urban life through word and photography Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:17:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Myrtone http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-316208 Myrtone Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:37:31 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-316208 I have checked the location on a map and noticed the route is an indirect unidirectional one, so I wonder whether a circular route might be a better option. A circular route will not need (dead end) termini, so the capacity is greater. It also offers the potential for using unidirectional trams, and if all platforms are on the right (kerbside) then they will only need doors on one side. There will thus be more seating and most of it will be fixed front facing. Given that Montreal's previous system had balloon loops, wyes and unidirectional trams, and that Toronto still retains unidirectional trams, with no intentional of converting the legacy system to bidirectional running. And turnback capability could be handled by means of reversing loops or wyes too. I have checked the location on a map and noticed the route is an indirect unidirectional one, so I wonder whether a circular route might be a better option.
A circular route will not need (dead end) termini, so the capacity is greater. It also offers the potential for using unidirectional trams, and if all platforms are on the right (kerbside) then they will only need doors on one side. There will thus be more seating and most of it will be fixed front facing.
Given that Montreal’s previous system had balloon loops, wyes and unidirectional trams, and that Toronto still retains unidirectional trams, with no intentional of converting the legacy system to bidirectional running.
And turnback capability could be handled by means of reversing loops or wyes too.

]]> By: Montreal In The Time Of Tramways | Introduction | Public Transit, Windsor Station Project « A Canadian Family http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-313449 Montreal In The Time Of Tramways | Introduction | Public Transit, Windsor Station Project « A Canadian Family Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:16:59 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-313449 [...] URBANPHOTO Some of the relatively modern (50s era) tramways [...] [...] URBANPHOTO Some of the relatively modern (50s era) tramways [...]

]]> By: Justin Bur http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-38358 Justin Bur Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:10:49 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-38358 Last week's articles in La Presse were written on the occasion of the release of detailed feasibility studies by the Société du Havre de Montréal (havremontreal.qc.ca) on its plan to replace the Bonaventure Autoroute through Griffintown. The Old Port tramway comes up because it too is part of the Société du Havre's plans. That tram project is an ideal pilot project, being the simplest, cheapest, and quickest to bring to fruition. As Christopher points out, it would also be very useful. On Wednesday evening this week (18 April), as part of the AMT's regular monthly public seminar, the LRT/tramway studies of the past few years were finally shown in a public forum. I missed the presentation since I was away, but the slides from the talk are on the AMT's web site at amt.qc.ca/corpo/colloques/mercredisamt/ (see 18 avril 2007 and download the PDF). That presentation also mentions the Nouveau Tramway idea, which Richard Bergeron developed and spoke eloquently on for several years while working at the AMT, before he founded Projet Montréal. The Park Avenue plan is by no means failed or dead, but it has been stalled for over five years. Now that we have the Société du Havre project, the interest in a line to Nuns' Island and Brossard, the Lachine Canal idea, and the upcoming City of Montreal transport plan coming in the next couple of weeks, I think chances are good that there is critical mass and consensus for going forward with building these systems. It's now a matter of *when*, rather than *if*. Last week’s articles in La Presse were written on the occasion of the release of detailed feasibility studies by the Société du Havre de Montréal (havremontreal.qc.ca) on its plan to replace the Bonaventure Autoroute through Griffintown. The Old Port tramway comes up because it too is part of the Société du Havre’s plans. That tram project is an ideal pilot project, being the simplest, cheapest, and quickest to bring to fruition. As Christopher points out, it would also be very useful.

On Wednesday evening this week (18 April), as part of the AMT’s regular monthly public seminar, the LRT/tramway studies of the past few years were finally shown in a public forum. I missed the presentation since I was away, but the slides from the talk are on the AMT’s web site at amt.qc.ca/corpo/colloques/mercredisamt/ (see 18 avril 2007 and download the PDF). That presentation also mentions the Nouveau Tramway idea, which Richard Bergeron developed and spoke eloquently on for several years while working at the AMT, before he founded Projet Montréal.

The Park Avenue plan is by no means failed or dead, but it has been stalled for over five years. Now that we have the Société du Havre project, the interest in a line to Nuns’ Island and Brossard, the Lachine Canal idea, and the upcoming City of Montreal transport plan coming in the next couple of weeks, I think chances are good that there is critical mass and consensus for going forward with building these systems. It’s now a matter of *when*, rather than *if*.

]]> By: Owen Rose http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-36972 Owen Rose Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:44:41 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-36972 The Nouveau Tramway idea is also a central element in Projet Montréal's, the new Montréal municipal party, platform. France is a brilliant example of the reinvention of the tramway and cities like Strasbourg, Montpelier, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Lyon and many others are witnesses to this transit/urban renewal success. Paris is actually behind the rest of France. The Nouveau Tramway is also an ecological method of encouraging public transit and creating urban design to limit automobile use. Stockholm, Helsinki, and Oslo all have tramways and similar climates to Montréal. Stockholm also has a métro and suburban rail service. Montréal needs a global urban transit vision that includes tramways. The Nouveau Tramway idea is also a central element in Projet Montréal’s, the new Montréal municipal party, platform. France is a brilliant example of the reinvention of the tramway and cities like Strasbourg, Montpelier, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Lyon and many others are witnesses to this transit/urban renewal success. Paris is actually behind the rest of France.

The Nouveau Tramway is also an ecological method of encouraging public transit and creating urban design to limit automobile use. Stockholm, Helsinki, and Oslo all have tramways and similar climates to Montréal. Stockholm also has a métro and suburban rail service.

Montréal needs a global urban transit vision that includes tramways.

]]> By: Christopher DeWolf http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-36772 Christopher DeWolf Sat, 14 Apr 2007 22:51:13 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-36772 An update: Les Amis de la montagne, a Mount Royal watchdog group, is going to ask the city to consider extending the proposed tramway from Dorchester Square right up Peel Street to Pine Avenue, at the entrance to Mount Royal Park. <a href="http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070414/CPACTUALITES/704140805/5155/CPACTUALITES" rel="nofollow">La Presse has the details</a>. An update: Les Amis de la montagne, a Mount Royal watchdog group, is going to ask the city to consider extending the proposed tramway from Dorchester Square right up Peel Street to Pine Avenue, at the entrance to Mount Royal Park. La Presse has the details.

]]> By: Ken Gildner http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-36727 Ken Gildner Sat, 14 Apr 2007 18:37:42 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-36727 Great article, Chris. Montréal lost its streetcars the same year as Ottawa, and it looks as though since its politicians are far more forward-thinking than the Capital's, it will regain a streetcar system well before Ottawa does. Even though Montréal is well-serviced by underground rapid transit, light rail can prove to be an important part of an integrated transportation network. Here's hoping the city pulls it off! - Ken Great article, Chris. Montréal lost its streetcars the same year as Ottawa, and it looks as though since its politicians are far more forward-thinking than the Capital’s, it will regain a streetcar system well before Ottawa does. Even though Montréal is well-serviced by underground rapid transit, light rail can prove to be an important part of an integrated transportation network. Here’s hoping the city pulls it off!

- Ken

]]> By: Anon http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/comment-page-1/#comment-36336 Anon Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:22:43 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/12/will-tramways-return-to-montreal/#comment-36336 If you're going to link to this from spacing, please use the permalink. A few days from now, nobody will have the patience to scroll around and find this post. If you’re going to link to this from spacing, please use the permalink. A few days from now, nobody will have the patience to scroll around and find this post.

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